Ideas For Exercising Your Dog

More than just walking and fetch.

If you own a dog with any type of drive, I’m sure you are always trying to look for ways to keep your dog entertained and fulfilled. King is very athletic and we have found multiple ways throughout the years to keep him entertained.

I know if your dog is a ball dog, there is most likely not going to be much else that they want more than a ball, but you might try other things just in case!

1. Flirt Pole – A lot of people are not aware of what a flirt pole is. It is a stick/pole with a rope and a toy of some sort attached to the end. When you buy a flirt pole, they most likely will come with a toy attached, but you can always remove it and put whatever your dog prefers (like a ball) at the end. You then have the dog chase the toy around.
   Use different methods like having them sit and stay while you hold the end of the toy up and have them jump for it. Have them wait at one end of the yard/field and then walk to the opposite side and have them run to the toy. Play tug with the toy in between to give them a little break.
2. Slat Mill – This a NON MOTORIZED treadmill for dogs. It has a belt that only moves when the dog moves. So they will only go as fast and as long as they want to go. This is a game changer for high drive dogs during days when you’re sick or the weather isn’t favorable. I don’t know about you, but my dog runs MUCH faster than I can, so putting him on the slat mill where he can run as fast as he can, makes him so happy. It is literally one of his favorite things to do. (I would say to wait until they are over a year old to start the slat mill ).
3. Swimming – Such a good form of exercise that is easy on the joints. If your dog isn’t fond of water, get them a life vest and start slow. We live by the ocean, but King does not like the moving water, so we found pool options for him to swim in. If you live by a lake or a river, that could be good too.
   Swimply is an app you can use to rent pools in peoples’ homes near you. Check the dog friendly options and take your pup swimming! (click the link to get $25 towards your first booking)
4. Take your dog somewhere new! Walking, running or hiking – doing those things in a new area with new smells keeps your dog interested and sniffing. The more sniffing, the more tired they will be.
5. Implement training exercises while you’re out walking. This gets your dog mentally and physically tired.
6. Hide & Seek – Depending on what your dog is interested in finding, use what has high value for them – treat, toy or even a human. King loves his freeze dried liver treats, so I will have him wait in a room and I will hide a treat or two in another room and have him come look for it. Once he’s found it, I have him wait there while I hide another treat in a another room. This makes the game take longer and helps him get more mentally tired. He will literally be panting at the end of the game from all the mental work.
   You can also do this game outside and I’ve found it’s much harder because there are more smells outside.
7. Agility/sport courses – King is not an agility dog, but I know there are certain breeds that love it and it really gets their brains working. Sport courses like luring or dock diving are not in our area, but I can only imagine how much King would have thrived doing those things.

Can you think of other ways to exercise your dog? Let me know what your favorite activities with your dog are.





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